Ypres 1914: The Menin Road

by Nigel Cave, Jack Sheldon

A vivid history of how a battered British Expeditionary Force stopped the advancing Germans, against the odds and just in time.  Ypres 1914: The Menin Road is part of a three-book series about the final major battle of the 1914 campaign on the Western Front. Although fought over a relatively small area and short time span, the battle was even more chaotic than usual, and the stakes were extremely high. Authors Nigel Cave and Jack Sheldon combine their respective expertise to tell the story of the men—British, French, Indian and German—who fought over this piece of ground.   The most direct route to Ypres for the advancing German columns in October 1914 was along the axis of the Menin Road. It was here that the Old Contemptibles of the British Expeditionary Force earned their legendary heroic status as they fought off increasingly desperate German assaults day after day, while place names such as Zandvoorde, Polygon Wood, and Gheluvelt were first etched into the British national consciousness. Bent and battered by the German storm, dressed in rags and short of food, equipment, and ammunition, the regiments of the old professional army stood their ground against huge odds. When, on November 11, they finally halted the Prussian Guards around Polygon Wood, virtually within sight of Ypres, they were reduced to one thin firing line. The BEF was at its last gasp—but it had inflicted a crushing defeat on the German army.

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 19, 2014

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book of a trilogy about the fighting in Flanders in 1914. There are two parts: one about the fighting, and the other is a walking tour of the battle sites. It is quite detailed with many maps and excellent photos. It is certainly written for those who know something about the 1914 situation already.

I found it to be of great interest since some years ago, I did a tour of the Flanders battlefields. Just visiting Ypres, the Menin Gate and Tyne Cot is a mind-boggling experience. This book helps to explain what happened in Flanders in 1914, which played a major part in the outcome of the Great War.

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

In late October and November 1914, as the German Kaiser's army swept across Belgium, an Allied Salient developed around the city of Ypres. Callous military logic called for retreating and shortening the line against the overwhelming numbers-but Ypres was one of the few bits of "Plucky Little Belgium" left in Allied hands. Its was a crossroads and a rail junction, too, so there were other reasons that the tiny little British Expeditionary Force was thrown in to the line to hold it. This was in the very first days of WWI, when trench systems were just being properly conceived and applied- and the British superiority in Rifle training and discipline cost the advancing Prussians and Bavarians very dear. But the incessant shellfire was whittling both sides as well...(Steel Headgear for all soldiers was still over a year away- the Germans wore leather- the Brits and French Cloth{!!!!!!})

This book is a combined History and guide of those dark days- and as such it is Very detailed- and still rapidly paced. After the almost daily updates of the battle- we get a selection of six great Automobile/Cycling and Cycling/Walking tours that will help you appreciate the tactical and dramatic elements to the story. There is Cemetery Content, a great Bibliography and a lot of maps and diagrams, although the Art Direction has called for period maps, and I feel a few more modern maps to compare might be a touch more clear. But its good and very compelling to read.

There are few adult themes to deal with and little graphic injury descriptions, but the constant horrific casualty numbers make this better for a Junior reader over 12 years old. For the Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast this is a really strong resource that can be used as a campaign guide as much as a travel guide. WWI gaming has never really been a big part of the market- and its easy to see why. But this book brings things down to Brigade and Battalion level- so you can understand the horror of the constantly attacking Germans and the British holding the line with an ever thinning professional army. This was an abattoir- and understanding how it happened in daily progress to the horror of the participants will hopefully help us avoid this sort of insanity in the future. If I ever get the itch to follow my Grandfather's footsteps- he was an officer in Bavarian Machine Gun Battalions nearby- I will probably seek out these books as guides.

[Everett Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of an excellent series concerning the early battles of the BEF in 1914.